International Football History and Statistics

On this day in football history

• 1929 Sam Wadsworth, Huddersfield Town left back, transferred to Burnley. Mostly engaged in coaching with Burnley he turned out in only 7 matches in two seasons after a brilliant career with the Yorkshire club. Left Nelson for Leeds Road in 1921 and won 3 Championship medals, a Cup winners' and 9 England caps whilst with the club. Played in over 300 matches, 292 in the League for Huddersfield. Was later a fine coach in Holland and died in 1961 at the age of 64.
• 1952 Nat Lofthouse, Bolton Wanderers centre forward, scored 6 goals in the Football League's 7-1 win over the League of Ireland at Wolverhampton. Perhaps the finest centre forward of the post-war period he joined Bolton in 1942 when 15. When he had to give up the game in 1961 due to an injured ankle he had scored 343 goals in first class peace-time soccer. For his club he hit 255 in League matches, 28 in the FA Cup competition and 3 in the Football League Cup and 2 in the FA Charity Shield. For England he scored 30 times in 32 internationals a remarkable average in modern football, and 1 for England 'B'. For the Football League representative side he scored 24 times. He appeared in the 1953 Cup Final when Bolton lost 4-3 to Blackpool and captained the team which won the Cup in 1958.
• 1958 Leeds United signed Willie Humphries, an international outside-right, from Ards but after two years he returned to Ireland. Came back to the Football League in March 1962 when he signed for Coventry City and won a Third Division medal with that club in 1964. Moved to Swansea Town 1964-65. At the end of 1965-66 he had played in 188 Football League matches and scared 34 goals and appeared in 13 internationals for Ireland.
• 1964 Nigel Sims, Aston Villa's 14.5 stone goalkeeper, transferred to Peterborough United. Began with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1948 but owing to the brilliance of Bert williams had few opportunities and moved to Aston Villa in March 1956. Won a Cup medal in 1957 and won his only representative honours in 1958 and 1961 for the Football League against the League of Ireland. Left League soccer in 1965 to emigrate to Canada. Played in 318 League matches.
• 1966 The first substitute to be used in the Scottish League appeared in the match between Queens Park and Albion Rovers. P Conn of Queens Park came on as a substitute in the Second Division fixture.